Atrium Design: Architecture + Interior Design Consultant

PROFILE

Atrium Design, an architectural and interior design practice based in Bangkok, was formed by Stefan Schlau in 1995. The scope of Atrium's expertise encompasses master-planning and urban design as well as detailed design of buildings and interiors, ranging from resorts + hotels, large residential developments, condos + apartment buildings, to private houses, shops and restaurants.

Sustainable design and environmental "green" concerns are key issues in all of Atrium Design’s projects. Our office is one of only two architectural practices in Thailand registered since June 2008 at the "US Green Building Council" (USGBC) for the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.

But the involvement in alternative energy projects of Stefan Schlau goes back to his 1977 project of Solar Energy Housing at Landstuhl (Germany) with Prof. Dietrich Weigert, a masterplan for a new residential development, chosen by the German Government as a demonstration and research project monitored and administered by the Fraunhofer Society, Germany. This concern about ecological + environmental issues is continiously apparent in all our projects since then.

We firmly believe in the advantage of a small, highly efficient practice which can maintain the vital personal relationship between client and architect that is essential to achieve high design quality and a tailor-made piece of architecture for the client's specific needs.

Over the years atrium design changed from a small private design studio to a limited company, employing several young Thai architects, mostly former students of Stefan Schlau. Atrium Design is now also designing larger residential development projects, but the philosophy of the practice remains the same: small project teams in close discussions with the client, and focusing on design issues in an attempt to achieve a consistant, uncompromising modern contemporary architectural language.

Stefan Schlau

Stefan was born in 1948 in Germany and studied architecture in Karlsruhe and Berlin, graduating with honours in 1975. He moved to England for further studies at the AA-School in London, graduating there in 1977, and then formed his own practice CLS architects+planners in 1980. He designed many projects in the UK, Germany, Saudi-Arabia, Greece and Thailand (see other projects).

He moved to Thailand in 1995 and founded Atrium Design.

He has been teaching architecture from 1977 until now, first at the AA-School and Kingston University in London (up to 1995) and then at King Mongkut University in Bangkok and Chiang Mai University. His work has been published in architectural magazines throughout the world including "Bauwelt" + "md" (Germany), "Building Design", "Sunday Times", "RIBA London Region Yearbook" (Great Britain), "AAM Archives d'Architecture Moderne" (Belgium), "Toshi-Jutaku" (Japan), "d+a" (Singapore) and "art4d", "Elle", "Home+Decor" and others in Thailand.

International Awards include the Rosenthal Studio Prize (1970) and the Aga Khan Award (1998) for the Diplomatic Club Riyadh (built 1984 with OHO).